Loom for weaving tufted-pile fabrics



Aug., 3,1926. f 1,594,605

E. F. CLARK LOOM FOR WEAVING TUFTED PILE FABRICS E. F. LARK LOOM FOR WEAVING TUFTED PILE FABRICS Aug. 3 1926.

` Filed August 19, 1925 5 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 3, 1926. 1,594,605

E. F. CLARKl LOOM FOR WEAVING TUFTED PILE FABRICS Filed August 19, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E TOR Aug. 3 1926.

E. F. CLARK LOOM FOR WEAVING TUFTED PILE FABRICS 5 Sheets-#Sheet 4 Filed August 19 l ,SINVENTOR .(V NUN.: QNNNNN ,wml u w cmq @mi .NNN mkwnk O o Lm. f

TToR Y Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,605 y' E. F. CLARK LOOM FOR WEAVING llUFTED PILE FABRICS Filed August 19, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 VM 06 l w T i 1 1 1' MMM I INVENTOR .IBY d. AGem-"K Lkw Patented Aug. 3, Y1926.

UNITED 4.STATES PATENT oFFici-z.

EUGENE F. CLARK, OF LEAKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR T0 HMARSHALL FIELD MILLS CORPORATION, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LOOM FOR WIEA'VING' TUFTED-PILE FABRICS.

Application sied August 19; 1925. seriai N0. `51,121.

This invention relates to looms for weaving tufted pile fabric and in particular to that class thereof wherein `tuft yarn carriers, commonly called tube frames, are' mounted in spaced parallel relation on a pair of 'endless carrying chains and are successively brought into an operative position to deliver' the tuft yarns to a .row of yarn grippers to be received by them. In looms of this class, the tuft yarn carriers are each provided with a spool on which are wound a number of tuft yarn strands the j colors of which may be varied in accordance with a desired pattern in the product of the loom; and, as each tuft yarn carrier is brought into the operative or yarn delivering position, it presents a row of down- A wardly directed end-portions of its tuft yarn strands, the grippers grasp the strands and draw them downwardly. a cutting device cuts the downwardly drawn strands and the grippers transfer the cut ott' lengths to the fell of the fabric into which they are woven as pile tufts.

.An object of my invention is to provide a novel and etlicient means for positioning the downwardly directed end portions of the .tuft yarn strands with respect to the yarn grippers to ensure the proper operation of the grippers upon the strands in receiving them from the yarn carriers.

Another object of the invention is to proi vide a cutting device of novel and efficient construction for cutting the lengths of tuft yarns drawn from the carriers by the grippers in which the parts are arranged and actuated rearwardly of the zone of the yarn strands when they extend between the yarn carriers and the grppers prior to the cutting thereof. l

y A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and efficient means for accurately positioning the tutt yarn carriers with respect to the yarn grippers .after the f carriers have been approximately brought into the operative position with respect to the grippers. y

With the foregoing and related objects in view, the invention consists of the ele- -ments and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.

' veiition.

Inthe accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, partly broken away, of Va loom embodying my 'in- Figure 2 is an end elevation of a part of 4 yarn grippers, a part of the yarn posi- Figure 5 is a front view of a part of the v loom frame and the tuft yarn cutting device and its actuating mechanism. l

Figure 6 is a front view of one of the;

tuft yarn carriers, its carrying chains and part of the mechanism for supporting and actuating the chains. 4 l

.Figure 7 is a plan of the yarn cutting device and the a-djuncts.

yarn positioning device and Figure 8 is a sectional plan of the yarn A' positioning blades and their ,carrying bar and .several tubular guides of the tuft yarn carrier.

Figure 9 isa section through the'yarn positioning device, on line 9-'9 of 7.l.

Referring to thedrawings` 2 designates the frame of the machine, 3 the breast beam Comb 4the lfabric or product of the-loomL extending from the comb 3 to and around the usual take-up roller 5, and 6 the warp threads extending rearwardly from the Vfell-"f of the fabric at the comb 3.

Mounted to turn. in suitable `bearings on i i one of the end standards of the* frame 2 is a driving shaft 7, Fig. 2, provided with a worm 8 and provided also witha pulley 10. by means of which power -may be applied to the loom. The worm 8 coacts with a worm wheel l11 on a shaft 12 which extendsbetween and is journaled in suitable bearings in the end standards of the frame 2. This shaft 12 carries a pinion 13 lin mesh with a gear wheel 14 on Ia shaft 1b' which ico also extends between and is journaled inf-A bearings in the end standards of the loom frame v j The end standards of thefframe are provided with upwardly extending, overhanging portions 1,6 supportingbearings which carry a shaft 17 which extends across the upper portion of the loom parallel to the shafts 12 and 15. This shaft"17 is provided with spaced sprocket wheels 18 around which pass two sprocket chains 19 adapted to carry a series of. spaced tube frames for carrying tuft yarns, one of which is shown at 20. Onlyv portions of the chains 19 are shown in the drawings.- They are, as usual, made endless and are guided and supported by a number of Sprocket wheels so that the chains may be periodicallv advanced a distance equal to the space between two of the tube frames carried thereby to bring them successively into the position, or substantially into the position, occupied b the frame 20. For the purpose of thus a vanoing the chains 19, the shaft 17 is provided with av ratchet wheel 21 actuated by a pawl 22 carried by an arm 23 which turns loosely on theshaft 17 and which is connected to a rod 24 to be actuated by the usual mechanism of the loom.

The tube frame is of usual form, comrising a long horizontally extending bar 26,

ig. 6, provided with end brackets 27 which are pivoted to the chains 19. The frame 20 is provided with the usual spool 28 upon which are wound tuft yarn strands, the free end portions 29 of which extend from the spool 28 to and through tubular guides 30 which extend downwardly from the bar 26, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6.

The construction and operation of the parts thus far referred to are commonv and well known to persons skilled in this art. and no detailed description or illustration thereof is deemed necessary herein.

As the successive tube frames like the frame 2() are successively broughtinto the operative position now occupied by the frame 20, the ends of the tuft yarns 29 projecting downwardly from the bottom of the tubes 30 are grasped by a row of yarn grippers 31 which draw them downwardly through the tubes 30 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, a distance equal to the length of a pile tuft. A cutting device, hereinafter described, then cut-s the strand* above the grippers, and, thereafter, the v"grippers 31 lower the cut lengths of strands to the position shown in Fig. 4 to be woven into the fabric in the usual manner.

Each yarn Gripper comprises two jaws 32 and 33. The jaws 33 are pivoted on the jaws 32 to move thereon from the open position shown in Fig. 3 to the closed position shown in Fig. 1 and back again. The jaws 32 are fixed on a shaft 34 which is fixedly carried by arms 35 projecting fixedly from a rockable shaft 36 carried by bearings on the loom frame. One end of the shaft 36 extends outwardly and is provided with a gear wheel 37, Fig. 2, in mesh with .a rack 38 on a vertically reciprocable bar 39 whichslides in bearings 40 on the loom frame. The bar 39 has a bracket 40 fixed thereon and provided with 'a roller 41 which rests upon the free end portion of an arm or lever 42 which is pivoted, at 43, on the loom frame. The arm 42 has a block 44 pivoted thereon which rests upon a 'cam 45 secured on the shaft 15,-

whereby, when the shaft 15 is rotated, the cam 45 will act to raise and lower the arm 42 and therewith the bar 39 and rack 38, and thereby rock the shaft 36 to raise and lower the yarn grippers 31 to and from the position shown in Fig. 3.

The jaw 33 of each yarn gripper is provided with an arm 46 the free L3nd of which extends between two plates projecting from a shaft 47 which is mounted to rock in the arms 35, whereby, when the shaft 47 is rocked in the arms 35, the grippers 31 will be opened, as shown in Fig. 3, and closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The shaft 47F is provided with an arm 48 which extends downwardly and rearwardly beneath the shaft 36 andcarries alever 49 which is fulcrumed, at 50, thereon. The upper end of the lever 49 is connected by a spring 51 to the arm 48 above the shaft 47. The shaft 36 is lprovided with an arm 52 carrying a block 53 having a notch 54 formed therein adapted to be engaged by a tooth 55 on a block 56 carried by' the ever 49. When the yarn grippers 31 are open, as shown in Fig. 3,

they .are held in the open position by the spring 51 holding an adjustable .screw 57 carried by the arm 48 up against the shaft 3?; and when the grippers 31 are closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, they are. held in the closed position by the tooth 55 engaging the notch 54 and the spring 51 holding t-he block 56 in engagement with the block 53.

The grippers 31 are opened and closed by a horizontally reciprocable bar 57 slidable in a bearing 59-on the loom frame in alinernent with the lever 49 and having its rearward end pivoted to the upper end of a lever 6() which is fulcrumed, at 61, on the loom frame. The lower end of the lever 60 is provided with a roller 62 which is held against a cam 63 on the shaft 15 by a spring 64 one end of which is attached to the lever 60 and the other end of which is attached to the loom frame, whereby, when the shaft 15 is rotated, thel cam 63 will reci rocate the bar 57. The projection of the ar 57 against the lever 49 when the grippers 31 are open, as shown in Fig. 3, moves the arm 48 and lever 49 to rock the shaft 47 against the action of the spring 51 until the grippers 31 are closed and until the tooth 55 engages the block 53 in its notch 54, as xshown in Fig. 1.4 The engagement of the tooth 55 l with the notch 54 holds the grippers closed until the sha-ft 36 is rocked to lower the grippers to the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position of the parts, the bar 57 is projected against a screw on the lower end of the lever 49,thereby moving the lever 49 on its fulcrum 50 until the tooth 55 is freed from the notch `54, whereupon the spring 51operates to open the grippers .by returning the arm 48, lever 49 and shaft 47 to the position in which the gripper arms 32 and 33 are open, as shown in Fig. `3. Thus it will be seen that, under the influence of the cam 63, the grippers 31 are closed' to grasp the tuft yarns 29 when the grippers are in the raised position shown in Fig. 3, and opened to release the tuft yarns when they are in the lowered position shown in Fig. 4.

The mechanism herein shown and described for opening and closing the gripc pers and for raising and lowering them alone is not included in my present invention and any lsuitable mechanism for the same purpose may be substituted for it.

After the chains 19 have brought a tube frame like the carrier 20 approximately into the position shown inFig. 1, each time a row of pile tufts are inserted into the fabric, the frame is accurately positioned with respect to the yarn grippers 31 by arms 66 and 67 (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) which engage the Y respective ends of the frame. `These arms 66 and 67 project ixedly from aV shaft 68 which is carried by and fitted to turn`fin the lower end of an arm 69 at each end of the loom. Each arm 69 projects fixedly from a rockable shaft 70 carried.

by bearings on the loom frame 2. The

shaft 70 is provided with a rearwardly pro-l jecting arm 71 which is connected by a rod 72 to a lever 73 which is fulcrumed, at 74, on the loom fra-me. The lever 73 is provided with a roller 75 which is held against a cam 76 on the shaft 15 by a spring 77 one end of which is attached to the lever 71 and the other. end of which lis attached to the. loom frame, whereby, when the shaft15 is rotated, the cam 76 will rock the shaft 70 to move the arms 69 and therewith the shaft 68 and arm 78 which is connected by a rod 79 to a lever 8O which is fulcrumed, at 74, on the loom frame. The lever 8O carries a roller 81 which is held against a-cam 82 on the shaft 15 by a spring 83 one end of which is attached 4to the arm 78 and the other end.`

of which is attached to the loom frame, whereby, during the rotation of the shaft 15, the cam 82 will rock the shaft 68 and i thereby raise and lower the arms 66 and 67 during their forward and back movements under the influence of the cam 76.

The forward ends of the arms 66 and4 67 are beveled, as shown in Fig. 6, to engage the respective endsof the tube frame 20 and accurately position it longitudinally with' respect to the yarn grippers 31; and the forward ends of the arms 66 and 67 are each' provided with a part 84 extending beneath the adjacent end of the frame 2O and having a socket 85, Fig. 3, formed therein and provided with outwardly Haring sides which receives a projection 86 on the adjaoent'end of the frame 20, when the arms 66 and 67 are raised, and accurately positions the frame in a forward or back direction with respect to the yarn grippers 31. Now, the contours of the cams 76 and 82 are such that after each tube frame like the frame 2O is brought approximately into the position shown in Fig. 1, the arms66 and 67 are moved forwardly from a position rearwardly of the position shown in Fig. l, and, as the forward ends of the arms 66 and 67 reach a position beneath the frame 20, they are raised into engagement therewith. As

the arms 66 and 67 are thus` raised into engagement with the frame 20, the beveled ends of the arms position the frame longitudinally, and the flaring sides of the sockets position the frame laterally or in a forward or baclr direction with respect to the yarn grippers 31, so that the lower end of eachtube 30 of the frame 20 will be directly vover the space between the jaws 32 and 33 of a yarn gripper 31`whenthe grip- -pers are raised to the position shown' in Fig; 3.

After the grippershave taken tuft yarns from the frame 20,thoarns 76 and 82 operate telewer the forwardedswf the arms 66 and 67 from engagement withhecarrier 20 and move them rearwardly awayfrorn the path traversed by the frames to permit the next succeeding frame to be broughtapproximately into the position of the-iframe 20 for a succeeding' tuft yarnfde operation. v l ,v

To ensure the entrance of each-tu y strand 29 projecting downwardly from the tube 30 of the tube frame 20 into the space between the jaws 32` and 33 of the yarn gripper 31beneath itbefore the closing of the grippers, I provide the following mecha msm:

Extending parallel to the tube frame 20 and arranged forwardly of the zone of the yarn strands 29 delivered therefrom is a b ar 87, Figs. 7 and 9, the respective ends of which are secured to and supported bythe rearward ends of arms 88 whose forward ends are pivoted, at 89, to parallel bars 90 which are supported to slide forwardly and rearwardly on't'ables 91 carried by brackets 92 which are secured to and project from end rests uponl a cam 103 on the shaft 15.

standards of the loom frame 2. The bars 90 are guided in parallel relationship during their forward and back movements by posts 93 rising from the tables 91 on the respective sides of the bars and connected at their upper ends above the bars by plates 94 which retain the plates upon the tables 91.

The rearward ends of the bars 90 are connected to the forward ends of links 95 whose rearward ends-are connected to the upper ends of arms 96 extending upwardly from a rockabie shaft 97 the ends of which are mounted to turn in the loom frame 2. The shaft 97 is provided with an arm 98 which is connected by c link 99 to a lever 100 which is fulcrumed, at 101, on the loom frame. The lever 100 carries a roller 102 wlrililch ie roller 102 is held against the cam 103 by springs 104 acting between pins projecting from the slidable bars 90 and pins projecting from side standards of the loom frame 2 and tending to draw the bars 90 rearwardly. It will thus be understood that, during the rotatie'. of the shaft 15, the cam 103 will act to move the bars 90 and therewith the arms 88 and bar 87 rearwardly and forwardly.

The arms 88 and therewith the bar 87 are supported by grooved rollers 105 which are carried by the arms 88 and rest upon cam bars 106 secured upon the tables 91 and eX- tending parallel to the arms 88 and bars 90. Each. cam bar 106 is provided with a socket or depressed portion 107 and a rela- -tively long, straight depressed portion 108,

separated from the socket 107 by a raised portion 109. When the slidable bars 90 are moved rearwardly by the springs 104 under the infiuence of the cam 103 from the position shown in the drawings, the rollers 105 roll along the straight portions 108 of the cams 106 and over the raised portions 109 and down into the sockets 107, and. when the bars 90 are moved forwardly by the cam 103 against the action of the springs 104, the rollers 105 are moved from the sockets 107 over the raised portions 109 of the cam bars 106 and back to the position shown. Each arm 88 is pressed downwardly, to ensure the engagement of the .rollers 105 with cam bars 106 at all times, by a spring 110 which encircles a pin or rod 111 and which acts between the arm 88 and a bracket 112 on thel'adjacent slidable bar 90. The lower end of the pin 111 is pivoted to the arm 88 and the upper end portion thereof extends slidably through the bracket 112.

The bar 87 is 'provided with a row of yarn positioning blades 113 which extend rearwardly from the bar toward the position occupied by the yarn grippers 31 when they are in the raised position shown in Fig. 3. These blades 113 are arranged with their sides in vertical position and 1n planes parallel to the sides of the yarn grip ers 31, and the blades are arranged so t at the spaces between them will be alined with and opposite to the grippers 31 and the spaces between tbe tubular guides 30 of the tube frame 20 above them for a purpose presently appearing.

The blades 113 are set in transverse grooves 114 cut in the bar 87 and they are retained therein by a rod or wire 115 which is seated in a longitudinal groove 116 in the bar 87 and which entends through notches in the upper edge portions of the blades 113. The rod or wire 115 is held in place by a strip of angle iron 117 which is secured' to the forward surface of thebar 87, and which extends over the top of the bar and over the top of the rod or wire 115, as clearly shown in the drawings.

lVhen the yarn grippers 31 are in the raised and open position and the tuft yarn carrier 20 has been accurately positioned above them with its tubular guides 30 directly over the grippers, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 103 and sp' ings 104 operate to move the bar 87 rearwardly, causing Athe rollers 105 to ride over the raised portions 109 of the cam lever 106 and enter the cam sockets 107, thereby moving the row of blades 113 rearwardly and raising and lowering them just before they reach the limit of their rearward movement. As the blades 113 are raised during their rearward movement, the free ends of the blades enter the spaces between the tubular guides 30 and reach the position shown in Fig. 3, and, thereafter, as

the rollers 105 enter the cam sockets 107, the blades 113 are moved down into the spaces between the yarn grippers 31 .and reach the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. As the blades 113 are thus moved to this dotted line position, the engage and move into the open jaws of tlie grippers 31 any end portions of tuft yarn strands 29 which project from the lower ends of the tubular guides 30 which are not properly within position to deliver tuft yarns to thegrippers, and while the grippers are being lowered and thereafter returned to the position shown in 'Fig'. 3, as previously described.

The tubular guides 30 of the tube frame 20 are wedge shaped in cross section so thatv their diverging side walls will form spaces osition,

` between the guides having widep'entrance openings facing the yarn positioning blades 113 to ensure the entrance of the blades into the spaces between the guides irrespective of i any slight irregularities which may occur in the spaced relation of the guides 3 due to the accidental bending thereof when in service or due to other causes; and the width of each slot 114 in the bar 87 is slightly in excess of the thickness of the yarn positioning blade 113 therein, sothat, while the walls of the slots 114 retain the blades 113 substantially in parallel relation, or sufiiciently so to ensure their entrance into the wide entrances of the openings between the guides 30, the blades 113 may move laterally independently of each other, as. they pass entirely through the openings between the guides 30, and accommodate themselves to the narrow portions of such openings at the rearward ends thereof. a

Arranged rearwardly of the zone of tuft yarn strands extending between the tubular guides 30 and grippers 31, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 7, is a horizontally arranged bar 118 which extends parallel to the row of grippers 31 and tubular guides 30. The respective end portions of the bar 118 are slidably supported by brackets 119 which extend inwardly from side standards of the loom frame 2. Secured upon the bar 118 is a longitudinally extending plate 120 the forward'portion of which extends forwardly from the bar 118 and toward Ithe tuft yarn strands 29 when they project downwardly from the tubular guides 30. The forwardY edge portion of the plate is serrated, providing cutting teeth 121 having spaces between them arranged in alinemen-t with said tuft yarn strands 29 to receivethe same when the bar 118 and plate 120 are moved for-` wardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1.

'The' plate 120 is provided with brackets 122 to which the forward ends of links 123 are pivoted. The rearward ends of the links 123 are pivoted to arms l124 which project from a rockable shaft 125 which is mounted to turn in bearings in the loom frame. The shaft 125 is provided with an arm 126 which is connected by a rod or link 127 to a lever 128 which is fulcrumed, at 74, on the loom frame. The lever 128 is provided with a roller 129 which is held in engagement with a cam 130 on the shaft 15 by a spring 131 one end of which is attached to the lever 128 and the other end of which is attached to the loom frame, whereby, during the rotation of the shaft 15, the cam ,130 and spring 131 will operate 4to move the plate 120 and bar 118 secured thereto forward from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1 and back again at certain intervals, as will be presently explained.

The bar 118 is shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 3 and it is embraced by a block 132 which is slidably tted thereto to be guided thereby longitudinally thereof. Secured upon the forward portion of the block 132 is a plate 133 having a cutting toot-h 134 projecting forwardly from thev forward edge thereof. The -too-th 134 is shaped or beveled'with respect tothe teeth 121 as shown in Fig. 7, and the upper surface of the tooth 134 is tted to slide in close contact with the lower surfaces of the teeth 121 of the plate 120 when the block 132 and plate 133 are moved longitudinally of the bar 118, whereby, the tuft yarn strands extendlng between the tubular guides 30 and yarn grippers 31 will be cut or severed by the co-operation of the teethi121 and toothv .134 when the parts are in the position shown. 1n Fig. n1 and the block 133 is moved to move 4its tooth 134 along the row or series of teeth 121 bymechanism which IV-shall now de-l shaft 140 which is journaled in brackets or bearings on the loom frame. The cable 135 extends ,entirely around the pulley 140 and the end portions thereof are secured there-y to, at 141, whereby when the shaft 140 and therewith the pulley 139 is turned in the-direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, the block 132 carrying vthe cutting tooth 134 will be moved along the teeth 121 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 from the position there shown, and when the shaft 140 andpulley 139 are turned in the reverse direc'- tion the block 132 and tooth 134 will be returned to the positionshown in Fig. 7. The shaft 140 is provided with a gear wheel 142 in mesh with the teeth of a rack 143 carried by a bar 144 which isl slidable in guiding arms 145 projecting from a vertical bar 146 secured to the loom frame. The bar 144 is provided wit-ha pin 147 which projects into a slot in a lever 148 which is fulcrumed, at 149, on the loom frame. The lever 148 carries a roller 150 which extends into a cam groove in cam body 151 on the shaft 15, whereby, during the rotation of the shaft 15, the bar 144 and rack 143 will be raised and lowered at cert-ain intervals to turn the shaft 140 and pulley 139 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 and in the reverse direction to reciprocate the block 132 and tooth 134 to eect the yarn cutting operation.

scribed is as follows;

' In this position of the parts, the yarn positioning blades 113 are moved rearwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, first to the position shown by full lines in Fig. `3

and then to the position shown by dot-anddash lines in Fig. 3, as previously explained, entering the spaces between the tubular tuft yarn guides 30 above the yarn grippers 31 and then moving downwardly between the yarn grippers 31 and moving into the jaws thereof any yarn strand ends projecting lfrom the bottom of the tubular guides 30 which are not properly within the open j aws of the grippers. This done, the shaft 47 is turned to close the grippers 31, while the positioning blades 113 remain in the dot-anddash line position shown in Fig. 3, as previously described. After the closing of the grippers 31 they are moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, drawing the tuft yarn strands 29 downwardly from the spool 28 and through the tubes 30, they are held in the position shown in Fig. 1 for a short space of time, under the influence of the cam 45. While the' grippers remain in the position shown in Fig. 1, the bar 118 carrying the platev120 and cutter 134 is moved forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, as previously described, and,` in this position of the y parts, the yarn strands extending between the grippers 31 and tubes 30 are within the spaces between the teeth 121 of the plate 120. The cam 151 now operates to move the block 132and cutting tooth 134 along the bar 118 and plate 120, in a manner to sever or cut the yarnl strands, as previously explained,

l leaving a row of cut pile tufts in the jaws of the yarn grippers. The yarn grippers 31 are then loweredby the operation of the cam 45 to the positionshown in Fig. 4 and the cut yarn tufts are released by the grippers 31 and woven into the fabric 4 in the usual manner; whereupon the grippers 31 are raised to the position shown in Fig. 3

for a succeeding operation.

I claim as my invention 1. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, means for supporting an'dguiding tuft yarn strands, yarn grlppers for acting upon said strands, means to o en and close the grippers, yarn positioning blades, and means for operating the blades to position the` strands with respect to the gri pers when the grippers are open.

2. In a oom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands, a row of yarn grippers for receiving strands from said guides, means to open and close the grippers, a row of yarn positioning blades, and means to move the blades between the guides and between the grippers to position the strands of said guides with respect to the grippers when the rippers are open.

3. In a oom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft arn strands, a row ofyarn grippers Inova le to and from a yarn receiving position adjacent to said guides, a row of yarn positioning blades, and means for moving the blades rst into spaces between said guides and then into spaces between said grippers,

4. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tutt yarn strands, a row of yarn gri pers for receiving strands from said gui es, a supporting bar carrying a row of yarn positioning blades, and means to move the bar to move the blades carried thereby between the guides and between the grippers to position the strands of said guides with respect to the grippers, said blades being laterally movable on sai7 bar. I

5. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands, a row of yarn grippers for receiving strands from said guides, a supporting bar carrying a row of yarn positioning blades, and means to move the bar to move. the blades carried thereby between the guides and between the grippers to position the strands'of said guides with respect to the grippers, said guides having diverging side walls forming wide entrance openings in the spaces between them for admitting said blades, and said bla'des being laterally movable on said bar. i

6. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands, a row of yarn grippers for receiving strands from said guides, a row of yarn positioning blades, and means to move the blades first in one direction into a position between the guides and then in another direction fromy between the guides to a position between the grippers.

7. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands, a row\ of yarn gri pers for receiving strands from said gui es, a bar carrying a row of yarn positioning blades, arms projecting from the ends of said bar, movable supports to vwhich said` arms are pivoted, means to move said'supports, and means to move said arms on said supports to move the blades between the guides and between the grippers.

8. In a loom for weaving tufted .pile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for 'llil move said supports, and means to move said arms on said supports to move the blades be tween the guides and between the grippers.

'the grooves.

13. A yarn positioning device for looms 9. AIn a loom for weaving tufted lpile fabric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands7 a row of yarn grippers for receiving strands from said guides, a bar carrying a row of'yarn positioning blades, arms projecting from the ends of said bar, movable supports to which said arms are pivoted,.means to move said supports, and cams to move said arms on said supports to move the blades between the guides and between the grippers.

10. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fab ric and in combination, a row of guides for tuft yarn strands, a row of yarn grippers for receivingr strands from said guides, a bar carrying a row of yarn positioning blades. arms projecting from the ends of said bar, movable supports to which said arms are pivoted, cam operated means" to move said supports, and cams to move said arms on said supports toV move the blades between the guides and between the grippers.

11. A yarn positioning device for looms for weaving tufted pile fabric, comprising a bar provided with a row of yarn positioning blades extending therefrom in spaced, substantially parallel relationship and being capable of independent lateral movement.

12. A vyarn positioning device for looms for weaving tufted pile fabric, comprising a bar provided with transverse, parallel grooves, a row of yarn positioning blades within said grooves and extending from said bar, and means to retain vthe blades within for weaving tufted .pile fabric, comprising a bar provided with xtransverse, parallel grooves and a longitudinal groove intersecting the transverse grooves, a row of yarn positioning blades within said transverse grooves and extending. from said bar and having. notches therein alined lwith said longitudinal groove, a rod seatedin said transverse grooves and said notches, and means to hold said rod in place.

14. A yarn positioning device for looms for weaving tufted pile fabric, comprising a bar provided with transverse, parallel grooves, a row of yarn positioning blades within said grooves and extending from said bar, and means to retain the blades Within the grooves, said grooves being wider than said blades, permitting independent lateral movement of the blades. v

Y 15. A yarn positioning device for looms for weaving tufted pile fabric, comprising a bar provided .with transverse, vparallel grooves and a longitudinal grooveintersecting the transeverse grooves, a row of yarn positioning blades. within saidtransverse grooves and extending from said bar and having notches therein alined with said longitudinal groove, a rod seatediny said transverse grooves and said notches, and means to hold said rod in place, said transverse grooves being wider than said blades, permitting independent lateral movement of the blades.

1 6. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination,-'a horizontally extending tube frame movable into and from an operative position in which it" presents a row of downwardly directed end ,portions of tuft yarn strandsgrippers operable""to` grasp said strands and draw them down-` wardly from the carrier, a bar arranged rearwardly of the zone of strands' extending between the carrier and the grippers, means to slidably support the bar for transverse movement, a cutting device carried by the bar, means to move said bar' and ysaid device forwardly into and rearwardlyfrom an operative position, and means to actuate said device when inthe operative position to l sever said strands. y

17. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a horizontally extending, tube frame movable into, ,and from an operative position in which it pre-y sents -a row of downwardly directed end` portions of tuft yarn strands, gripper'g operable to grasp said strands and draw them downwardly from the carrier, a bar arranged rearwardly of the zone of strands extending between the carrier and the grippers, means to slidably Vsupport the bar for transverse movement, a cutting device carried by the bar, a rotatable cam, a link and lever mechanism connected to said bar and operated by said cam to move the bar and the cutting device forwardly into and rearwardly from an operative position, and means to actuate said device when in the operative position to seversa'id strands.

18. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combination, a horizontally extending tube frame lmovable into and from an operative position in whichit pre sents a row of downwardly directed end portions of tuft yarn strands, grippers operable to grasp said strands and draw them downwardly fromV the carrier, a bar arranged rearwardly of the zone of strands extending between the carrier and the grippers, means to slidably support the bar for transverse movement, a cutting device carerative position, and means to actuatesaid device when in the operative position to sever said strands. v 1

19. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and'in combination, a horizontally extending tube frame movable into and from an operative position in which it presents a row of downwardly directed end portions of tuft yarn strands, grippers operable to grasp said strands and draw them downwardly from the carrier, a strand'cuttlng device arran ed rearwardly of the zone of strands exten ing between the carrier and the grippers, means to support and move said device from an ino erativedposition rearwardly of and spaced rom sai zone to a cutting position in the region of said zone, and means to actuate said device when in the cutting ,position to sever said strands.

- 20. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and in combinatlon, a tube frame, a carrying device pivotally supporting the tuft yarn carrier, grippers operable to grasp andI carrying lever into and from enga-gement with the ltube fra-me.

21.*In a loom for weaving tufted pile fabric and n combination, a tube frame, a carcam, and means operated by said cam toy move the positioning, lever relatively to the carrying lever into and from engagement with the tube frame.

22. In a loom for weaving tufted pile fab- -ric and in combination, a tube fra-me, a carrying device pivotally sup ortng the tuft yarn carrier, grippers opera le to rasp and act upon tuft yarn strands carrie by said fra-me, a carrying lever movable on a fixed fulcrum, a positloning lever fulcrumed on the carrying lever and provided with means to engage the tube frame and position it with respect to said grippers when the. positioning lever is moved, means for rocking the carrying lever on its fulcrum, a rotatable cam, means operated b said cam, for rocking the carrier on its fu crum, a second rotatable cam, means operated by said second cam-for moving the positioning lever relatively to the carrying lever into. and from engagement with the tube frame, and means for rotating said cams.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature hereto.

- EUGENE F. CLARK. 

